SIX-YEAR-OLD COLE ADRIAN LAID TO REST AS KANSAS COMMUNITY GATHERS TO HONOR HIS MEMORY

Family, friends and schoolmates said goodbye to the young soccer fan at a funeral in McPherson, Kansas. His favorite colors and clothing became part of a touching tribute to a little boy whose life was cut short in a crash at a Wichita sports complex.

A grieving Kansas community gathered on Monday, October 26, to say goodbye to six-year-old Cole Adrian, whose death in a crash at a soccer complex has left his family, school and community heartbroken.

Cole’s funeral was held at McPherson Free Methodist Church, where family members, friends, classmates and community members came together to remember the young boy and support those closest to him. A private graveside service followed.

Cole was a kindergarten student at Roosevelt Elementary School in McPherson. His death has deeply affected the school community, prompting McPherson Public Schools to close for the day so students and staff could attend his funeral and pay their respects. >

A TRIBUTE TO THE THINGS COLE LOVED

Cole’s family invited mourners to honor him by wearing the things he loved most: soccer jerseys, blue clothing or camouflage.

The simple request gave friends and relatives a personal way to celebrate the little boy’s life, remembering the interests and small details that made him special to those who knew him.

The church service brought together people united by grief and a desire to support Cole’s loved ones. Overflow seating was arranged nearby to accommodate those who wanted to attend.

For his classmates and teachers, Cole was more than a name in the news. He was a young student whose future had only just begun.

CRASH AT STRYKER SPORTS COMPLEX

Cole died on Saturday, October 17, after a pickup truck drove onto a soccer field at Stryker Sports Complex in northeast Wichita while games were taking place.

The crash also claimed the life of 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer, another McPherson resident. Ten other people were transported to hospitals with injuries that authorities initially described as noncritical.

According to Wichita police, the preliminary investigation indicated that the Chevrolet pickup had been parked near the soccer fields before it drove onto one of the playing areas and struck several children and adults.

The incident remains under investigation. In an update published on October 20, police said detectives had conducted nearly 50 interviews and were examining vehicle evidence while awaiting toxicology results and further analysis.

As of the latest reports reviewed for this article, the driver had been released from custody while the investigation continued, and no charges had been announced. Authorities said any decision would depend on the evidence gathered, including the results of testing and the vehicle examination.

“LAUGH LIKE COLE, LOVE LIKE COLE, LIVE LIKE COLE”

As the community mourns, one message has become a way to keep Cole’s memory close: “Laugh Like Cole, Love Like Cole, Live Like Cole.”

The words capture the hope that the young boy will be remembered not only for the tragedy that took his life, but also for the joy and love he brought to the people around him.

For his family, no words can make the loss easier. But the presence of so many people at his funeral showed that they do not have to face their grief alone.

Cole’s favorite blue clothing, camouflage and soccer jerseys offered small, meaningful reminders of the child they were there to honor.

Cole Adrian was six years old. As his family and community grieve, they are holding on to his memory and the message they hope will live on: laugh like Cole, love like Cole, and live like Cole. 💙🕊️